Mooring device



E. LEZAK MOORING DEVICE Feb. 25, 1969 Sheet Filed Dec. 11, 1967 INVENTOR.

.flnii- EDWARD LEZAK AITQR NE Y E. LEZAK MOORING DEVICE Feb. 25, 1969 Sheet Filed Dec. 11, 1967 E m? j 3 mm m R 8% T W 8 09 mm om INVENTOR. EDWARD LEZAK ATTORNEY it States 3,429,289 MOORING DEVICE Edward Lezak, E. Barclay SL, Hicksvilie, N.Y. 11801 Filed Dec. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 689,513 US. Cl. 114--230 Int. Cl. B63!) 21/00 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a mooring system and particularly to a device for securing small boats and the like to a dock, sea wall, pier or other land connected mooring facilities.

As is no doubt well known, wave action, storm conditions, wind and tide have a pronounced effect upon the position and attitude of a boat even when docked. The safety of a docked boat depends almost entirely upon the strength and security afforded by its moorings and the extent of damage to the boat which may be caused by storm, wind and tide is minimized by a secure mooring.

It is essential in mooring small boats to provide for a large degree of vertical movement to enable the boat to rise or fall with the corresponding movement of the tide. It is also essential to permit the boat to roll and pitch to compensate for changes in wave patterns. It is, however, preferred to limit or entirely eliminate the ability of the boat to travel or to move bodily'in towards the dock on the water in a plane parallel thereto or transverse to the dock. Any such travel, even slight, greatly increases the possibility that the boat will contact the pier or dock or become loose from the mooring, drift and overturn in high seas or storms.

It is further most desirable to provide a mooring which is, of course, rugged and sturdy of construction but which is simple to operate and manipulate. Manipulation, of course, is preferred from the pier or dock rather than from the boat. In manipulating the device, it must be possible to adjust the distance of the boat from the dock and easily vary this distance so as to compensate for the roughness of tide, wind and wave and to enable the boat to be brought close to the pier for boarding.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a mooring device in which the above adverse factors as well as the desired virtues enumerated are amply provided for.

It is a specific object of this invention to provide a mooring device which may be easily installed in any existing pier, dock or other facility.

It is another specific object of this invention to provide a mooring device having a boom extendible over the Water and means for securing a boat thereto which means may be operated from dockside to vary the distance between boat and dock.

It is another specific object to provide a mooring device having a boom which is fixed against all but vertical movement to thereby prevent horizontal or transverse and rotary movement of the boat on the water.

It is another object to provide a mooring device having a boom employing a novel means for fixedly connecting the boat to the boom so as to prevent unwanted boat travel.

3,429,29 Patented Feb. 25, 1969 EQQ These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a docked boat showing the mooring device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken line 22 of FIG. 1 showing a device in use;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the device taken in the direction of line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, partially sectioned of the device;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a reversible ratchet mechanism employed in this device, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the illustrated embodiment depicted in FIGS. 16, there is shown in FIG. 1 a boat 10 moored to a dock 12 by a pair or set of mooring devices according to the present invention generaly designated 14. The advantages sought by the present invention are best obtained in a system combining the use of a pair or set of mooring devices 14 one at the bow and one at the stern of the boat as shown. The devices are identical except they are left and right sides or opposite hand images of each other and, therefore, in FIGS. 2-6 only one is shown which will be described in detail.

With particular reference to FIG. 1 each mooring device 14 comprises a mounting bracket 16 secured to the dock, formed of a pair of steel plates welded, forged or otherwise secured together at right angles to each other to provide a vertical bulkhead 18 and a horizontal base 20. The mounting bracket 16 may be made of steel, aluminum or any other suitable rigid and strong material and may be bolted or otherwise fastened to the dock in any suitable and convenient manner.

Secured to the face of the bulkhead 18 of bracket 16 is a. vertical U-shaped post 22 extending upward to form a standard to which is fastened a hollow boom member 24. The post 22 is preferably U-shaped in order to provide rigidity, strength and durability. It may, however, be cylindrical or rectangular in cross section. On the other hand, it may comprise a pair of spaced standards otherwise reinforced for the purpose.

The boom 24 has its rear end 26 pivotally secured about axle 28 adjacent the lower end of the post 22 to move in a vertical plane and to have its forward end 30 extend from bulkhead 18 over the water. The boom 24 is provided with an adjustable line mechanism, generally designated 32, having fixed to it a substantially laterally extending fastening device 34 by which the boat 10 may ultimately be bound to the boom.

The fastener means 34 is moveably held and stabilized in its lateral direction by connection to an elongated track 36 secured the length of the boom 24. The details of the line mechanism 32, fastening means 34 and track 36 will be described hereinafter. However, it will now be observed that by simple manipulation of the line mechanism, the position of a boat may be adjustably secured anywhere between the inner end 26 and the outer end 30 of the boom 24.

Securing the boom 24 to the mounting bracket 16 are a pair of adjustable length chains 38, the forward end of each being secured to a side of the boom 24 approximately midway of its length. The rear end of each of the chains is fixed to opposed corners of bulkhead 18 so as to angularly connect the boom 24 to the bulkhead 18. Each chain 38 is provided with a turnbuckle device 40 so that upon suitably tightening, the chains are caused to rigidly fix the boom 24 within the standard 22 against rotary horizontal or transverse movement in .a general plane perpendicular to the vertical plane in which the boom is pivotally mounted.

Attached to the upper part of the bottom 24 adjacent its forward end is the end of a third chain or rope 42 which is secured to at its other end to a take-up reel 44 having a handle 46. The chain 42 is caused to be wound on reel 44 consequently causing the boom 24 to pivot in a vertical plane about point 26 raising (in dotted lines) or lowering the end 36 (in full lines) as shown in FIG. 2. It will be observed that While the winding of the rope or chain 42 on reel 44 will result in the upward and downward movement of boom 24, the chain 42 does not otherwise prevent the pivoting of the boom 24.

Interposed in and intermediate the ends of the rope or chain 42 is a resilient, yieldable snubber 48. The rope line 42 is sufliciently long to allow the boom 24 to be moved between its vertical upward position A shown in broken lines in FIG. 2 to its lower downward position B shown, extending down below the dock. In practice, the line 42 is wound about the reel 44 and locked to position the boom 24 at the desired angle of inclination or declination relative to the dock. However, as the tide rises or falls, it is important that the boom member be permitted to pivot at 26, with the tide, without changing the setting of line 42 about the reel.

Hence, the snubber 48 performs an important function. By being interposed in the line 42, the length of the snubber 48 makes its part of the line yieldable, absorbing the Weight of the boom 24 and removing it from the boat 10. The snubber applies a tension to its integrally connection portion of the line to eliminate sudden rising and falling movements of the boom. The loop in line 42 is made sufficiently long such that once the line 42 is locked in its position, there is enough spare length of the line its loop to accommodate the extremes of rise and fall of the tides and waves. Hence, as the snubber 48 expands and stretches with the fall of the boom in response to the drooping of the boat, the loop of the line decreases in size. It will be clear that the snubber 48 absorbs forces applied to the line 42 due to the sudden changes while always counterbalancing the weight of the boom 24. In use, a spring and/or other more complex structures may be used for this purpose.

At this point, it will be observed that the device is constructed to permit movement of the boom in only one manner, namely, to pivot substantially in an arc in a vertical plane perpendicular to the surface of the dock or water, as represented in FIG. 2 where the extreme uppermost boom position is shown in position marked A and the extreme lowermost boom position is shown in the position marked B. Thus, the boat which is to be secured to the boom 24 via the fastening means 34 will only move bodily in a vertical direction as with the fall and rise of the tide. The boat will be unable to move bodily in a horizontal plane generally parallel to the surface of the Water or transverse to the dock or pier. Accordingly, travel is prevented.

Turning to FIGS. 3 and 6, there will be seen a ratchet device for take-up reel 44. The reel 44 is provided with an axle 50, journalled on the standard 22, co-axially secured and keyed to an end of which, outside of the standard 22, is a ratchet wheel 52 as well as the handle 46. Pivotally secured at 54 to the standard 22 is a twofaced ratchet dog 56 having a handle 58. The dog 56 is reversible into engagement either with the right hand side (as shown in full lines) or with the left hand side (as shown in dotted lines) of the ratchet reel 52 as seen in FIG. 6. Thus by reversal of the dog 56, the reel 42 can be safely secured against slippage even when raising or lowering the boom 24. While this ratchet mechanism is to be preferred because of its obvious safety features, other more conventional ratchet devices or reel securing devices may be employed to lock the take-up reel 44. This ratchet device is not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 because of limited space.

The line mechanism 32 for adjusting the position of the boat along the boom is shown in detail in FIGS. 3,

4 and 5. Turning, again, to FIG. 3 the axle 50, to which the take-up reel 44 is secured, is extended to support a freely rotatable drive pulley 64. The collar ring coupling 60 is fastened to the outer end drive pulley 64 and connects it to one end of the shaft of a forward and reverse electric motor 104. A hand crank 62 is connected to the other end of the motor shaft for either manual or motor operation of the drive pulley 64 independently of the axle 50.

Wound about the pulley 64 is an endless chain, rope or marine line 66 which is rigid or otherwise provided with means to prevent slippage and the line 66 extends downwardly over one section of a dual pulley member 68 rotatably journalled to the lower end of the standard 22, on the pivot axle 28. From pulley 68, the line 66 extends outwardly along the boom 24 to a third pulley 70 rotatably mounted on a bracket 72 securely fixed to the outer end of the boom 24. The bracket 72 extends in a direction generally parallel to the latch mechanism 34 as seen in FIG. 5.

From this outer pulley 70, the line 66 returns along the length of the boom 24 to the second section of dual pulley member 68, winds thereabout and then upwardly to the pulley 64. Between the upper drive pulley 64 and the lower idler pulley 68, the forward and return portions of line 66 criss-cross each other so that upon cranking of the handle 62 the line is caused to correspondingly move downwardly and out along the boom or upward and inwardly of the boom in an endless manner. The fastener means 34 is secured to the lower or horizontal run of the line 66 and is thus manipulated to move from the outer end 30 to the inner end 26 of the boom.

The fastener means 34 comprises, as seen in FIG. 5, a pair of identical body members 74 bent at one end to accommodate a pulley wheel 76 rotatably supported by an axle 73. Each of the body members 74 is provided with a groove 80 which cooperating with each other forms a hole within which the line 66 is adapted to fit. A pair of nut and screw bolt asesmblies 82 are provided by which the sections of the body 74 are tightened about the line 66.

A swivel eye snap hook 84, FIG. 2, is attached to a double shank stern eye at the stern and also a double shank bow eye at the bow of the boat 10 and a tie cord or line 86 is permanently tied to each swivel hook eye 84. When the boat is secured to the mooring device 14, the line 86 is looped through the adjacent pulley wheel 76 and back to the swivel hook eye 84. The line 86 at each end of the boat is pulled and secured taut so that the boat is evenly positioned between the bow and stem booms 24.

As noted previously, the fastener means 34 is stabilized by connection to track 36. This connection comprises a rigid bracket 100 having a bifurcated yoke 102 at one end and at the opposite end a pair of rollers 88 freely journalled on fixed axles 90 disposed normally to the general plane of the bracket. The rollers 88 are inserted in track 36 and the yoke 102 is secured about the body members 74 of the fastener 34. The nut and bolt assemblies 82 may be employed for the dual purpose of fixing the yoke 102 to the members 74 and for securing the members 74 about the line 66. The track 36 comprises an elongated tubular member 92 of generally rectangular cross section, one side of which is conventionally secured to the boom 24. The upper side of the tube 92 is provided with a slot 94 running its entire length and located central thereof so as to provide a pair of opposed retaining lips 96. The rollers 88 when inserted into the tube 92 will ride the inner surface of the outside Wall 98 of tube 92 with the axles 90 extending outwardly of the slot 94. The rollers 88 will be maintained within the channel 92 by action of lips 96 and the opposed bottom side. Consequently, the entire bracket 100 will be maintained in its laterally outward direction, as shown in FIG. 5, and be reciprocally movable within the tube 92 along the entire length of the track 36. To facilitate the insertion of the rollers 88 and subsequently maintain the rollers within the tube 92, there is provided a removable end cap, not shown, or other suitable stop device, at each end of the tube.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that alternative stabilizing means may be employed. For example, the bracket 100 may be bifurcated at both ends and the rear end (or roller end as now constituted) may be inserted in cooperatingly formed guide slots or grooves provided in the upper and bottom sides of the boom member with or without rollers. Also, the rear end of the bracket can be inserted directly into the boom member itself through a slot therein and maintain against vertically all but reciprocal movement much as in the manner herein shown.

The position of a boat from the duck 12 can thus be adjusted along the length of the boom 24 simply by operating electrically or manually by handle 62 so as to move the line 66 about the pulley train 64, 68 and 70. A conventional locking mechanism (not shown) may be employed, if desired, to maintain the crank handle 62 and/or the pulley 64 from rotating when not being electrically or manually turned.

It will be observed that the boat is secured in a basically rigid manner and whatever movement it does have is well defined and controlled. Thus, when the boat is docked between bow and stern mooring devices 14, the latching mechanism 34 secures the same to the bow and stern mooring devices 14 for movement therewith in the vertical direction, but against movement in the horizontal direction. The movement permitted by the fastening mechanism 34 allows the boat 10 to pitch and roll but not to travel lengthwise as discussed previously. By referring to FIG. 2, boarding the boat, for example, can be facilitated by drawing it as close to the dock as possible (in dotted lines) while safety in rough weather can be enhanced by moving the boat as far away from the dock as possible (in full lines) thereby preventing possible damage to the boat.

In summary, it will thus be seen that there has been provided a mooring device which because of its rigid or fixed boom construction prevents horizontal or surface travel or movement of the boat when secured to it. However, because of its pivotal mounting, the secured boat is permitted a large degree of pitch and rolling movement. Furthermore, because of the pivotal mounting of the boom, vertical changes in the level of water, caused, for example, by changing tides, is automatically compensated for without interfering in any way with the otherwise rigid and fixed securement of the boat against travel.

Additionally, but of no less importance, is the fact that the position of the boat with respect to the dock may be adjusted and varied from the dock by the moveable line mechanism, eliminating the need for entering the boat. Further, there has been provided numerous safety features securing the boat and the boom mechanism against unwanted change in position. Another advantage lies in the provision of a boom which may be raised from the dock into a vertical position out of the way of the boat docking area and of the boats area or movement.

A still further advantage of this device is that it eliminates the use of all tie lines, ropes, etc. commonly used or repaired in mooring of a boat as well as the need to employ fenders or bumpers to protect the boat when moored to a dock.

It is obvious that various other modifications, as well as the use of other parts may be made in the present device while remaining well within the scope of the present invention. An important feature of the invention resides in the ability to use a single shaft to operate the drive pulley either manually or by motor.

Having fully disclosed and completely described the invention and its mode of operation, what is claimed as new is:

1. The mooring device for securing a boat to a dock or the like comprising:

a standard having a base adapted to be fixed to said dock,

a boom pivotally mounted at one end to said standard for movement in a plane vertical to the surface of said dock and extending outwardly therefrom,

means for fastening a boat thereto comprising a bracket having line retaining means at one end and roller means at the opposite end,

an elongated track secured to said boom substantially its entire length,

said roller means being inserted within said track for reciprocal movement therealong,

a first pulley mounted at the outer end of said boom,

2. second and a drive pulley mounted on said standard,

a flexible endless line wound between said pulleys and fixed to said bracket, and

means located on said standard for moving said line whereby said fastening means may be moved along said boom.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said means for moving said line comprises a manually operable crank connected to said drive pulley.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said means for moving said line comprises electric motor means operatively connected to said drive pulley.

4. The device according to claim 1,

a reversibly rotatable reel on said standard,

reel line means connecting said reel with said boom to pivotally move said boom in its vertical plane in response to the rotation of said reel,

said reel being on a shaft on said standard,

said drive pulley being on said shaft and rotatable independently thereof, and

forward and reversible motor and hand crank means connected with said drive pulley to rotate the same.

5. The device according to claim 1,

a pair of restraining means comprising a pair of chain means each of which is permanently fixed one each on a respective side of said boom and to said base.

6. The device as in claim 1,

a reversible rotatable ratchet reel on said standard.

reel line means connecting said reel with said boom to pivotally move said boom in its vertical plane in response to the rotation of said reel,

a reversible ratchet including a ratchet wheel rotatable with said reel, and

a two-faced ratchet dog to selectively engage said ratchet wheel in its reversible rotation.

7. The device as in claim 6,

said reel line means includes an elastic means interposed along the length thereof.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein said track is located on a side of said boom and said bracket is maintained in position laterally therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,558,174 6/1951 Flink 114-230 2,938,492 5/1960 Kulick 114-23O 3,177,838 4/1965 Grimes 114 -23 TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner. 

